Get TWO Free P90X Workouts
Get two free P90X workouts so you can really “bring it” with Tony Horton. These free bonus workouts are not available from the Beachbody website or by calling the toll free infomercial number. They are only available to customers who order P90X from a Team Beachbody Coach like me. You still get the same full P90X program, but you will also get two bonus workouts.
If you have done your research on 90PX, you have probably heard about Tony Horton’s 92 minute P90X Yoga X. It is one of those workouts Xers both love and hate. Never have I broke a sweat doing yoga like I do when I do Yoga X.
Many P90X graduates and Xers have chatted in length (no pun intended) about the length of P90X Yoga X. I guess Tony and Beachbody heard us loud and clear because one of the bonus workouts when you order P90X from a coach is a yoga workout called Fountain of Youth.
Fountain of Youth has all of Tony’s favorite yoga moves but ini less time. You will still have to work hard and will still get a great workout, but the duration of the workout is shorter. That makes it a good mix in when you are short on time.
The other bonus workout is called Mammoth UML (upper, middle, lower). It is a full body workout designed for the traveler. I would have loved having this workout when I went on my cruise last year.
These two bonus P90X workouts have a $40 value, but they will automatically come with your P90X when you take advantage of ordering from a coach. This is the best deal on P90X available anywhere.
If you already have P90X but would like a shorter Tony Horton yoga workout, you might want to try Patience Hummingbird. This is one of the One on One workouts from Volume II. I enjoy the intensity of the workout but sincerely appreciate the shorter yoga session.
Tony Horton P90X One on One Volume 3 Training Ground for P90X:MC2
Yes. The sequel to Tony Horton’s P90X Extreme Home Training System has a scheduled release date in late 2011, but you can get into the action now! Volume III of the Tony Horton One on One series is the training ground for production of the new 12 dvd extreme training program.
Volumes I and II of Tony Horton’s One on One series brought P90X graduates a new crazy only Tony extreme workout each month. The workouts take place in Tony’s home gym. He does the exercises. There are no other participants. It is what Beachbody calls raw with the man himself.
Volume III introduces quite a bit of change, so get ready P90X grads! The Tony Horton One on One series is now called P90X One on One. It is a program designed for those who have already gone through the P90X program.
It is important to already have the basic exercises in P90X down before going on to P90X One on One. You need to already understand nutrition, warming up, stretching as well. This is a graduate program that builds on your P90X foundation. It is a continuation and improvement of the One on One series.
Unlike the P90X program, it does not come with a Food Guide or workout schedule. Most graduates use the P90X exercise schedule and plug in appropriate One on One workouts as they receive them.
P90X One on One workouts are almost twice the length of the first two volumes of One on Ones. The workouts will be 50 – 60 minutes in length – closer to what P90X graduates are used to from the XP90 dvd workout program.
Volume III is still unscripted and uses the science of muscle confusion to prevent boredom, lessen injuries, and keep your body working toward your fitness goals. Oh, and you will still get some free stuff along the way. The August workout includes free dog tags with a One on One engraving.
The August workout is actually the second disc. It is named ARX2. You guessed it… the new Ab Ripper! Ab Ripper X to a new extreme. It is twice as long as the original P90X Ab Ripper X. Ouch!
The first disc in Volume III is Chest, Back and Balls. The exercises in this workout are based on body weight. No bands or weights are required. The balls in the title refer to exercise balls by the way. (smile)
P90X One on One works like a magazine subscription. You get a new disc to add to your collection each month. It arrives automatically to your mailbox every month. You are automatically invoiced each month and pay as you go. The regular price for a workout dvd is $19.95. As a coach, your discount brings this price down to $14.95 per dvd.
Back to the “testing ground” I mentioned at the beginning of this post. P90X One on One workouts are going to be used to create and refine the workouts for P90X:MC2. What is cooler than that is the casting for the P90X sequel will consist primarily of Team Beachbody Coaches.
As a coach who purchases all 12 P90X One on One Volume III dvds by July 2011, you will get a 50% discount code for P90X:MC2. Even if you start your subscription now and add your missing volumes by July of next year, you will still qualify to get this special P90X sequel discount.
One more thing P90Xers….remember P90X Yoga X? You know the 92 minute power yoga that we all whine about in the begining and grow to love as we master the workout? Well, there will not be a 92 minute yoga workout in Volume III. Because of the feedback on “time” from P90X grads, there will actually be two dvds. The yoga is 60 minutes, and there is a separate stretch dvd. If you want to do extended yoga workout, you can work both dvds back to back. It is now your choice!
Are You Doing the XP90?
I was recently asked if I was doing the XP90 because I was sporting my gray P90X shirt. It’s amazing to me that someone can read P90X right off your shirt and ask if you are doing the XP90. I was amused by it. I amused even more by the number of people who know about this awesome Beachbody home fitness workout program. I think part of this is due to Beachbody’s incredible advertising online and through their national infomercials. The other part is from word of mouth because P90X is like no other workout ever put on the planet.
I wore my shirt on a “poker run” one weekend and started up a lot of conversations. (By the way, a poker run is motorcycle ride event to raise money for a non-profit.) At one of our stops, I got into a conversation with a young couple who was doing P90X together. They had some friends that were also getting fit with 90PX. They were so excited that I felt like we were family in a way – fellow P90Xers.
I have seen other reactions to P90X as well. We walked into a restuarant at the end of the day and had a young waiter who was fairly tall and overwieght. He said he tried P90X for about a week and quit. All he had to say about the program was negative. I wanted to ask him if he had bought bootleg dvds and just tinkled with the workouts. I wondered if he had the exercise guide and the nutrition guide, if he listened to the get started dvd. I doubted it. This man was not committed. In my basic training, we called this type of person a SIE – self initiated elimination. He gave up on himself, not the program.
I have a friend who loves doing the P90X Yoga X workout from her husband’s program but dispises the rest of the P90X. This is a fit woman, but she just thinks Tony Horton is too quirky. He is a little goofy but obviously, this keeps thousands of people pressing play and pressing hard for results.
I know a few people at work who mention the program every once in a while. I think they might be intriqued but intimidated by the boot camp style exercises. These are usually overweight, middle aged guys who dream of their high school days. They usually know someone who has gotten results from P90X but just have not made the commitment themselves, yet.
I guess there are at least three other groups I could talk about. We cannot forget about what I call the lifers. These are Xers who have done more than one “round” of P90X. They may supplement their X workout with other extreme programs such as Insanity or TurboFire, but their main program is P90X. P90X+ and P90X One on Ones probably compliment their workout libraries. They are all about Tony Horton and the “X”.
Then, there are the folks who go through P90X one time. They may or may not get through the whole program. They see results but do not make the necessary lifestyle changes to keep their results and continue to improve and maintain good health. Their P90X sits on a shelf collecting dust. They might not have even done one workout yet even though they think about it often.
I guess I would be included in the last group. I started on Tony Horton’s P90X Extreme Home Fitness Training System. I now mix in P90X with other Beachbody programs in my workout schedule. P90X helped me get on track. It was a great foundational program for me that I highly recommend for anyone who is motivated by athletic, boot camp style training.
Sign up for your FREE Beachbody Account to access Free Fitness Tools and Tips such as how many calories you need to eat to lose weight.
New P90X Coming Soon? Sneak Peek at P90XMC2
P90X Extreme Home Fitness is getting ready to get even more extreme. All you PX90 grauduates, fans, and future Xers beware! P90XMC2 won’t be for the uncommitted. The new program is a sequel to P90X. – a complete new set of 12 dvds designed to keep you mind challenged and your muscles confused. And, Tony Horton is giving you a sneak peek.
The new P90X (sometimes referred to as P90nXt) is still a year away, but there’s good news! If you are a One on One subscriber, you will get sneak peaks and a look behind the scenes as Tony tries out some of the new moves with YOU. The Tony Horton One on One series is now called P90X One on One. The workouts are 50-60 minutes in length just like in P90X.
P90X One on One works like a magazine subscription. You get a new copy (dvd workout) automatically sent to you each month. Unlike a magazine subscription, however, you pay as you go and can cancel at any time. If you are a PX90 nut, you will probably get hooked on the anticipation of something new and challenging every month. You also get free unexpected gifts sent to you as a subscriber. Last month’s One on One subscribers received a preview dvd of Chalene Johnson’s new TurboFire weeks before it was released for sale.
Just browse the One on One Volume I and Volume II libraries to get an idea of the crazy things Tony brings. Workouts such as Diamond Delts, Core Ball Sandwhich, 10 Minute Crusher Pack, Plyo Legs, Killer Abs, and Patience Hummingbird. Again, the Volume III One on One has been renamed P90X One on One. The first P90X One on One workout is called “Chest, Back, and Balls”…plyo pushup while balancing your hands and feet on stability balls? Now that’s crazy!
Subscribe for P90X One on Ones for a full year and Beachbody will email you a 50% off discount code for P90X:MC2 as soon as it become available. Yep, Beachbody is providing you half off pricing on Tony’s new workout program if you are one of his gym pals in P90X One on One for twelve months. If you miss a month, you can still get the discount by purchasing your missing Volume III dvds. Now that’s crazy!
Free Full Sample Turbo Fire Review DVD w/Tony Horton One on One 4 Legs
Hey guys, Beachbody is giving away a dvd from Turbo Fire to subscribers of Tony Horton’s One on One through June 2nd. The May One on One workout is called One on One 4 Legs. Getting free preview dvds and other free gifts is one of the cool things about having a subscription to One on One.
Tony’s One on One series was designed for P90X graduates to variety and continued training from Tony Horton himself. Each month, a new workout dvd arrives in your mailbox. The workout is filmed in Tony’s gym and no one else is working out with him. It is like being right there and working out with him.
What are the workouts like? If you have experienced P90X, you will appreciate the challenges Tony throws at you. I think only Tony could think up some of the stuff he does. Take a look at this video. It is a peak at the One on One 4 Legs dvd.
If you subscribe before June 2nd, you will get the free full sample Turbo Fire dvd along with your One on One 4 Legs dvd. Turbo Fire is scheduled for release on June 18th. It promises to be a hard hitting cardio workout that will compliment the P90X and ChaLean Extreme programs.
Although Turbo Fire is a high intensity cardio workout, Chalene Johnson designed it with every fitness level in mind. She uses what she calls a modifier, a person working out next to her that modifies exercises to keep them low impact and lower intensity so you can build up as your body’s strength and endurance increase. That makes this a great follow up program for Slim in 6, Hip Hop Abs, and Turbo Jam.
I hope you take the time to watch one of the Turbo Fire video clips. It looks like a fun workout that will melt fat, boost metabolism and take your fitness to new heights. I plan on ordering the Turbo Fire program when it is released and starting on July 1st. I hope you can join me.
One more program that will soon be released is Body Gospel. It is a new workout program that works out the body, mind, and spirit by using gospel music and prayer throughout the workout. Fitness trainer Donna Richardson Joyner is well known in the fitness industry and was the trainer for Buns of Steel and the Sweating in the Spirit workout video series. I will let you know when this program is available. I have not personally seen any home fitness workout video program designed with worship in mind.
What is Your Favorite P90X Workout?
What is your favorite PX90 workout? Is it the killer Ab Ripper X dvd, Plyometrics workout or challenging 92 minutes of P90X Yoga X? Ok, I am kind of laughing now because I just listed what I believe are the most challenging, extreme workouts in the P90X program.
I am P90X graduate, and I have read quite a few PX90 reviews. The favorite P90X workout seems to be the Kenpo X. It was probably my favorite as well. I mean, how could I not like a fun workout where you are punching and kicking. How could I not love a P90X workout that is only about 45 minutes long? How could I not love the fact I made it through the whole Kenpo X dvd the first time.
If you are a P90X affiliate, you know what I am talking about. The words of Tony Horton (”do your best…forget the rest) helped me get through many challenging fitness routines that I might have given up on in the past.
P90X was the beginning of my journey. It has been almost a year now since I since I joined the Beachbody team. I am now a big fan of Chalene Extreme and continue to be a big fan of Tony Horton’s One on One dvds. What can I say? I love Beachbody workouts.
Free Turbo Fire Preview with One on One Subscription
Ok P90X graduates, if you are not currently subscribing to Tony Horton’s One on One’s, this is the time bring it! One on One is a monthly workout brought to you by Tony Horton. Tony works out in his gym in his own crazy style and brings you along as a workout partner. Enjoy this One on One video to learn more about Tony’s workouts.
You can purchase individual One on One workouts, but subscribers get a few surprises now and then. This past year, I received a preview dvd of the Rev Abs series. I also received a refrigerator magnet with Tony Horton and his quote “abs are made in the kitchen.” I think I received a bonus One on One dvd to pass along as a freebie to someone else. I also received a jump rope to add to my gym stuff.
The cool thing about a subscription though is a new dvd comes to you every month to keep your routines anything but routine. Signing up for the One on One series anytime between now and June 2, 2010 will also allow you to get a free preveiw dvd of Chalene Johnson’s Turbo Fire.
Turbo Fire is a highly anticipated high intensity interval training (HIIT) program that is due for release at the end of June. Shaun T’s Insanity is also a HIIT program, but it looked like it was too advanced for me. After training at home with my Tony Horton and Chalene Johnson dvds, I think Turbo Fire is going to compliment Tony Horton’s strength training routineds with some awesome cardio.
I like the interval cardio workouts in ChaLean Extreme. They are different from the workouts she does with Turbo Jam which is a dance based program. I am predicting a combination of Chalene’s best moves plus a number of new moves. Beachbody says that Turbo Fire can burn up to NINE times more fat and calories than in a traditional cardio workout. Great news for me because I am not a cardio nut.
HIIT workouts help you set your metabolism fire ablaze and keep it burning in the hours following your workout. Yeah baby! Turbo Fire will have 12 cardio classes. Chalene is on stage and your spot is front and center! You will feel like you are right there in class with the program’s participants. After your workout, you can go to the chat room in the online supergym and talk to others live.
Ok, so you can wait until the end of June to get turned on to Turbo Fire…. or you can sign up for Tony Horton’s One on One before June 2, 2010 and get a preview of Turbo Fire for F R E E.
Dynamic Flow Yoga
I have a new love hate relationship with one of my Beachbody workouts. It is called Dynamic Flow Yoga. It is one of the additional programs that can be purchased for ChaLean Extreme. It is just under forty minutes, so it is quite a bit shorter than P90X Yoga X. I think Chalene was trying to make this workout as grueling as Yoga X though. She designed it to be done with weighted gloves!
I have never heard of doing yoga with weighted gloves, and I did not know what to expect so I did my first round without the gloves. I think I will actually go through another round without adding the weight.
Chalene combines yoga and pilates. I liked the focus she puts on breathing. This is one of the things that I think was missing in P90X Yoga X. Tony would remind you to breathe, but if you are new to yoga, you have no clue as to when to breathe in or out.
I felt like I was playing my P90X dvd when we starting going from plank, to chattaranga, to upward facing dog, to downward facing dog….move the right foot up between your hands and into warrior 1. That was really the only time I smiled during this routine.
There was one fantastic back stretch that was new to me. You lay face down similar to superman in P90X Synergistics, but you have your arms and legs wide forming an X shape. Then, you pull your arms back like a parchute jumper does in a jump and bend your knees while pulling up your legs and crossing your feet at the ankles. Every muscle in your back is stretched. Nice.
Each exercise seemed to have a standard yoga element (i.e. warrior 1 or warrior 2) modified with pilates breathing and arm movements challenged your shoulder, rotator cuff, and tricep muscles. I felt my shoulders even without the added weight.
If you have P90X but not ChaLean Extreme, I recommend getting this add on routine to supplement or occassionally replace your Yoga X routine. It will give you some additional variety, keep you stretched, and not beat up on you like 92 minutes of Tony style power yoga can do.
This is definitely a tougher routine than the Recharge yoga workout that comes with the basic program. I cannot really compare it Tony’s One on One Patience Hummingbird. The styles are totally different.
I do think that when it comes to yoga, it is a good idea to have a few workouts on hand. Variety in your flexibility routines is as important to consistency and results as having variety in your strength, core, and cardio training.
Workouts Mar 28 – Apr 3
I am a little late in posting my workout routine from last week. I guess this is because I had just recently decided to post each workout to keep myself accountable and to show my readers that workout schedules can be modified to fit into your lifestyle. We are not a 9-5 society anymore. Most of either work some sort of shift work or have some in the family who does. Here is what I did last week:
Sunday – ChaLean Extreame Burn Circuit 3 and Tony Horton’s One on One Cardio Confusion: Mason’s Choice
Wednesday – Yard work and ChaLean Extreme Push Circuit 1
Thursday – ChaLean Extreme Get Lean Intervals and Recharge
I started writing my workouts on a wall calendar. I like seeing what I have done so far for the week. It pushes me not to let too many rest days bump into each other.
This past week, I started doing the Push Circuits and moved away from the Burn Circuits. I have thought lately about trying out the cardio intensive Insanity program. I guess I might just like to do it to have that accomplishment under my belt. I guess each challenge becomes like earning a new girl scout badge!
I am waiting to hear more about a new Beachbody workout program with Chalene Johnson as the trainer. It is called Turbo Fire. I have seen a short video clip. I would like to see a little bit more about how she designed the program.
In Turbo Jam, Chalene uses seven signature moves. She combines a little Hip Hop and Kickboxing. As you know, anything that takes coordination in the way of dance is hard for me. If the cardio is more like the Get Lean or Burn Interval workouts in ChaLean Extreme, then bring it! I am ready for the challenge.
I hope you sign up as a coach before you get hooked on Beachbody programs so you can enjoy a 25% discount on all products and programs. I paid full price for my first program. I wish I would have known about the discount ahead of time. I also wish someone would have told me about the Showcase Pack that only coaches can purchase.
It is a complete package of six of Beachbody’s most popular programs. P90X, Power 90, Turbo Jam, Hip Hop Abs, Slim in 6, and Yoga Booty Ballet. A coach can get all this for $200. The price for P90X or ChaLean Extreme alone is $119.85.
Cardio Confusion: Mason’s Choice
I decided I wanted something different for cardio today, so I pulled out my new dvd – Cardio Confusion: Mason’s Choice. This is a anther great thirty minute One on One workout from Tony Horton’s gym.
Graduates of P90X will recognize a lot of the exercises. Subscribers of One on One will also see a few familiar moves. This whole workout is based on taking what you know and mixing it up with a non-stop random selection of cardio exercises performed at 30-60 second intervals. Mason literally pulls the next exercise out of a hat and Tony does whatever is pulled.
The nice thing about this cardio session is you get to work your whole body but with enough variety that you do not get bored. I think this idea was actually born with the success of P90X Kenpo X. Most Xers really like Kenpo. Maybe this is because it is over before you realize that you are actually working out and not just playing around. Cardio Confusion is somewhat like that. You will know you are working out, but you will not know what is coming in thirty seconds. That makes it fun.
The Tony Horton One on One workout dvds can be ordered individually or as a set. Each workout is roughly thirty minutes which is about half the length of P90X workouts. Tony and Mason put out a new workout each month, so there is always something new…something to look forward to arriving in your mailbox. You might even want to think about subscribing to the One on One series which will automatically send you the newest release each month.
I am currently working with ChaLean Extreme as my primary program. When I want to throw in an extra workout or substitute a cardio workout, I often turn to my Tony Horton One on One collection. Graduates of P90X who continue to use P90X as their primary program do the same thing. It allows them to work out with Tony’s intensity and bizarre sense of humor while bringing an extra challenge and a lot a variety to their living room gym.
Do you need equipment? You do not need any special equipment for Cardio Confusion: Mason’s Choice. Most of the One on One series does not call for equipment other than a pull up bar. Yes, Tony does still make you attempt (I am honest here) pull ups in some of them. By the way, I know you may be wondering who is Mason…he is the camera guy who keeps Tony Horton company while taping Tony’s personal workout.
Tony Horton’s One on One: Butt and Belly
Tony Horton’s One on One Butt and Belly offers 45 minutes of alternating exercises between the buttocks and the abdominal muscle groups. Tony takes us through two rounds of ten exercises. The first round is super slow and the second round is a speed round. This routine does not require any accessories other than your water bottle, towel, and maybe a mat for the floor work.
Most of the exercises are isometric which means the muscle being worked is engaged throughout the whole movement. You should expect some muscle shaking and a little sweat! Just in case you are curious or would like to print off a exercise guide for this video, I listed the exercises below. Remember that isometric exercises require intense concentration to maintain control and good form.
- Side Hop Squat
- Iso Bike
- Iso Back Kicks
- Iso Torso Twists
- Leap Frog Squats
- Iso Crunch Frog
- Eight Card Pickup
- The Monster
- Warrior Run
- Super Scissors
Tony Horton’s One on One monthly workouts are designed to keep variety in your workout routines and keep P90X graduates pushing play. Tony’s crazy style will keep you motivated. If you haven’t worked out with Tony in any of his other programs, this is a good way to see what he is all about. You can order just one dvd or have UPS deliver a new one to your door every month. Are you up to the challenge?
ChaLEAN Extreme Push Circuit 1
Hello phase II! ChaLEAN Extreme has three phases: Burn, Push, and Lean. In the Burn phase, we used a weight that put our muscles in failure at 10-12 reps. In the Push phase, we increase the weight and decrease the reps to a failure range of 6-8.
Push Circuit 1 focuses on biceps, triceps, glutes, and hamstrings. Unlike the Burn phase, Push concentrates on one muscle group at a time rather than stepping through a compound exercise which engages the lower and upper body at the same time.
An example of this is the standard bicep curl. Bicep curls were also used in the Burn phase but they were joined with a variation of squat to work on the lower body at the same time. If you think this makes the Push phase easier, think again! My triceps and biceps were shaking and burning by the end of this routine.
Chalene continues with the breakdown reps we came to know in the Burn phase. This time, however, she adds more of them to the routine. Muscle fibers twitch, your mind gets really focused, and you accomplish more than you thought possible. Cool.
Tony Horton uses the 6-8 rep range in P90X. There are at least three key differences between the two training styles though. In P90X, Tony uses a superset series. He moves through a series of three muscles groups (biceps, triceps, shoulders), takes a short break and repeats the set. The reps are done in good form but at a faster rate.
Chalene puts your focus on one muscle group (i.e. biceps). The reps are super slow which keeps your muscle engaged and working for a longer period of time. Then, when your muscle seems exhausted, you take about a ten second break and somehow find the engery to do a breakdown set of three ultra slow reps.
I think both methods bring results. One of the things I love about Beachbody workouts is the variety of training techniques. It is important to have variety in your routines.
I have read over and over about getting bored after doing a certain workout program week after week. That makes sense. As much as I love pizza, if that is all I ate meal after meal…day after day…I wouldn’t like pizza so much anymore.
I recommend starting with a Beachbody workout that sparks an interest for you and will help you stay committed. Then, add in something like Tony Horton’s One on One or 10 Minute Trainer workouts which will add variety and keep pushing play. Please feel free to contact me if you need help choosing your first program or a supplemental program.
Keep pressing play!
Ten Minute Crusher Pack
Since I knew October’s One on One training session came with a jump rope, I was expecting the 10 Minute Crusher Pack to use a jump rope to do cardio intervals. I didn’t expect the workout inside. Tony Horton is a crazy trainer who will keep you entertained, motivated, and pushing forward.
The 10 Minute Crusher Pack is actually divided in three 10 minute segments. The first segment is called 20-12 Abs and appropriately works your abdominal muscles. Tony put together a series of ab exercises that alternate between hanging from a chin up bar and work on the floor.
The ab routine is a nice variation to through into your P90X Extreme Home Training workout plan if you get tired of Ab Ripper X or just need a change. It is more challenging than Ab Ripper 100 and Ab Ripper 200 which are both ab routines from Power 90. The 20-12 Abs is more comparable with Ab Ripper X but you will be using the chin up bar a lot to isolate and work those tough abdominal muscles.
The second workout session packs ten minutes full of extreme exercises for legs. It is called Legs of Gold. If you know Tony, then you know that regular squats and lunges will never do. He likes to “mix it up” with any and every variation he sees or can dream up.
If you are new to fitness or to Tony Horton, this leg workout will give you a challenge and probably remind you that you worked legs a day or two later. I cannot compare the intensity of Legs of Gold with the P90X Legs and Back exercise routine. The P90X version is butt burner in my book.
The downside of the P90X Legs and Back workout is the length. You don’t always have an hour to exercise or you might want to just work legs or add them to something besides your back routine. That’s where I think Legs of Gold belongs in my fitness routine. I never thought I would ever be happy with a ten minute leg routine. I guess if you know how, you can get an effective workout in ten minutes.
The last exercise segment is Shadow Boxing. This is a cardio segment that uses the familiar jab, cross, hook, uppercut, kick, block…. It’s like graduating from P90X Kenpo X or Chalene Johnson’s Turbo Jam and then, putting it all together in a fun, playful way.
So, what’s the big deal about a jump rope? The jump rope is used as a warm up and for cardio intervals between segments. Jumping rope is an excellent aerobic activity. I never was very good at jumping rope as a kid. Now, I have a reason to practice. I know I don’t have to be perfect. I just have to do my best. All I have to do is keep my body moving. I can even “jump rope” without using a rope.
Burning Fat, Blasting Abs, Turbo Jam’s Ab Jam Workout
My abs were still burning from working out with Tony Horton’s a Core Ball Sandwich the other day, but I decided to put in Chalene Johnson’s 20 minute Ab Jam workout from her Turbo Jam series anyway. Half of this routine does standing ab exercises. The other half is performed on the floor.
What I really like about Beachbody workouts is each trainer has their own style for working out abs. I used to be one of those people who would go to the gym and walk by anything that looked like it might involve abs. I didn’t like working my abdominal muscles because it involved pain.
My neck and lower back always seemed to hurt when I did ab exercises. I didn’t know I needed a trainer to keep me motivated, correct my form, and give me options for getting my mid-section in shape.
The standing portion of Ab Jam feels a lot like the other Turbo Jam workouts. It’s a little bit punching and kicking combined with music and Chalene’s style of fun. It’s true that you forget you’re working out when you’ve got a Turbo Jam DVD playing.
Here’s a hint for Ab Jam…warm up with the 20 Minute Cardio session. You’ll get your cardio, have a great warm up and keep the fat burning while working your abs with Ab Jam.
I will say that when we moved to the floor session, I knew for sure we were focusing on abs! Some of the moves Chalene uses are killer on the obliques and not once did I feel pain in my neck or lower back.
She reminds you to lead with your shoulder (not your elbow) when you’re doing crunches to keep the pressure off your neck. When doing standing crunches, she’ll tell you to lift your “hip” not your knee when doing side crunches.
Form is everything folks! I can appreciate a trainer who knows the common mistakes we all make and gently educates us on how to make each move more effective while reducing the risk of injury.
I like to combine the 20 minute Turbo Jam cardio with the Ab Jam workout which is also 20 minutes in length. I think I need to give my abs some recovery time now. I feel like I just did Ab Ripper X or Yoga Belly from P90X. I think I need to go to the kitchen and refuel now. Mommy!
Stability Ball Plank Crunch & Side Arm Crunch
I pushed play on Core Ball Sandwich (CBS) tonight. It’s a Tony Horton One on One workout that I wrote about recently. Tonight, my body felt two exercises in particular, so I thought I’d write about them.
This workout routine is only about 35 minutes long after the warm up. It consists of two rounds of ten exercises that focus on strengthening the core muscles. It’s a killer ab session that will leave your abdominal muscles screaming!
The exercises that really hit me tonight were the Stability Ball Plank Crunch and the Side Arm Crunch. The side arm crunch is performed from a side plank position. You pull your elbow and knee toward each other in a side crunch while maintaining a side plank. That took a lot of focus, stability, and determination for me tonight.
The Stability Ball Plank Crunch obviously involves a stability ball. You begin in a plank position with your feet on top of the ball. Then, you move your knees into your chest while rolling the ball forward. Tony puts the balls of his feet on the ball, but I had to modify this one.
My ball is larger than it should be for this exercise. Therefore, I put the top of my feet on the ball rather than using the balls of my feet. That helped ensure I didn’t take a header. It’s ok to modify any exercise as long as you’re still working the intended muscle groups without the danger of injury or over compensation from another muscle group.
Tony’s new One on One 10-Minute Crusher Pack should arrive in about a week. It sounds like it’s going to be some old school cardio. Beachbody is sending a free speed jump rope with the DVD. You can get this DVD, Core Ball Sandwich or any other DVD on this series either separately or as a monthly subscription.
These programs were designed to keep P90X Extreme Home Fitness graduates challenged. They’re not designed for beginners. I would highly recommend trying out one of them if you want to get feel for how this trainer motivates and pushes all of his students.
They say that when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. Are you ready? (Don’t forget that as a Club Member you’ll save 10% off the retail price and as a Team Beachbody Coach, you’ll enjoy a savings of 25% even on the more expensive P90X program.)
Fall Hike? Mix It Up for Results
My hip flexors are sore today. Yesterday, we took a five mile hike on a local trail. The trail was challenging. Not only was it five miles long, but it was rolling with hills and curves. Sometimes we were walking; sometimes we were jogging. This was an invigorating walk that challenged my aerobic, strength, and endurance capabilities.
I live in an area that has a lot of pollen, and I have allergies to pollen and to mold. That makes walking on a trail difficult for me most of the year. In the spring and summer, I have trouble breathing because of pollen. Late in the year when we’ve had a rainy season, the mold count on pine needles in wooded areas makes me wheeze and affects my endurance and intensity.
For a short period of time during the year, the trails are perfect. If I don’t get out and hike them when I can, I lose a beautiful opportunity to enjoy nature and mix up my routine. The ultimate key to keep your body burning fat and your muscles getting tighter is to mix up your workout routines. Don’t let you body get used to doing the same thing everytime you work out.
As for this morning? I think I need to do a little yoga to stretch out those hip flexors. Hmmmm. P90X Yoga X or Patience Hummingbird? What will you do today? Get out on a trail if the conditions are right for you. Keep it mixed up. Keep doing your best. Forget the rest.
P90X Yoga X – More Calm, More Storm
P90X Yoga X made it to my dvd player today. I hesitated before pushing play because I haven’t done this 92 minute power yoga workout in about two months. I looked forward to the workout, yet I dreaded some of the poses. I wondered if the workout would be as difficult this time around. I decided that I would commit to the first 45 minutes of the routine. I pushed play and set out to do my best.
Guess what? It’s still a difficult workout, but it’s better in the second round of P90X. I’m stronger now, and I know what’s coming. I used to shake a lot in upward dog and side plank. My core muscles are much stronger now. These yoga poses are no longer mastering me and kicking my butt.
On the other hand, the half moon sequence still causes a lot of shaking! At least I’m not stumbling, losing my balance, and falling to the floor in the half moon series any longer. So, the good news is I’m stronger and more flexible. The bad news is that to gain more calm….I’ve got to experience more storm.
I tell everyone that there’s nothing easy about the P90X Extrme Home Fitness program. You’ve got to really commit yourself and work all aspects of the program. You have to remain accountable to yourself and above all esle, be willing to fail and try again. That’s been my experience with P90X Yoga X. I commit to do my best. I struggle. I fall. I try again. I get stronger. I gain flexibility and balance. I master one move and still struggle with another. Calm. Storm.
I’m waiting on this month’s Tony Horton One on One to arrive. It’s his new yoga routine named “Patience Hummingbird”. It’s only about half the length of Yoga X. I know it will have it’s own challenges as Tony’s One on One program was designed to keep P90X graduates motivated with new extreme fitness workouts. I’ll write a review this week after I get a chance to experience the new calm and storm.
Core Ball Sandwich Flatter Abs!
I finished Tony Horton’s One on One Core Ball Sandwich feeling like I’d accomplished a great challenge yet missed the mark on athletic ability. My core muscles received a muscle twitching trembling workout, but I had to practice Tony’s mantra to “do your best and forget the rest.”
I struggled primarily with the pull ups. I’ve worked my way up to one chin up, and I’m quite proud of that. I don’t plan on ever being able to keep up with Tony on the pull ups. He’s a machine when it comes to pulling himself above that bar!
Core Ball Sandwich is a series of ten exercises that are done in two rounds. In keeping with this trainer’s style, three exercises are done in super set style and then, the next set of three, followed by another set of three. Ok, so that adds up to nine…he throws in an extra ball exercise.
A set of pull ups starts each super set of three exercises. The pull ups are not standard pull ups like you’d see in a beginner’s course. Remember, One on One workouts were designed for P90X graduates who wanted to continue using extreme fitness training routines. These pull ups are for extreme workouts. If you’re like me and can’t do them, you just do what you can.
After a set of pull ups, you’ll move on to a set of balance ball exercises. These are challenging because you have to use tiny little muscle to stabilize your body. For example, one of the balance ball exercises requires you to do push ups with your hands on the ball and your feet on a bench. I modified here by placing my feet on the floor. Modifying exercises allows you to build up strength and endurance over time while preventing injuries from overexertion or improper form.
The final set of exercises is performed with a basketball. I didn’t have a basketball, so I used a four pound medicine ball. I really liked using a smaller ball in this workout. I thought the added weight worked well to intensify the V-up crunches. It was also easier for my hand to palm during the push up exercises than a basketball would have been for me.
Core Ball Sandwich is an extreme fitness workout that brings both challenge and variety to any Beachbody program. It takes advantage of interval training to get your heart rate up which means your metabolism is charged. When your metabolism is burning so is fat! This workout brought plenty of sweat and as I write this, my abs are still on fire.
Power 90 Ab Ripper 100
Ab Ripper 100 is one of the ab routines in Tony Horton’s Power 90 Fat Burning System. I had heard of Ab Ripper 100 from P90X. In Ab Ripper X from P90X, Tony says that this isn’t Ab Ripper 100 or Ab Ripper 200, this is Ab Ripper 336. After finally doing Ab Ripper 100, that statement made more sense.
Ab Ripper X is 16 minutes of hard ab work. Each exercise has 25 reps except for the massive amount of Mason Twists done at the end. Oh, and let’s not forget the “yoga belly seven” ab work on the Yoga X video. That’s P90X. Let’s get back to Power 90 and Ab Ripper 100.
Ab Ripper 100 consists of 10 ab exercises. Each exercise has 10 reps for a total of “100″ reps. Most of the exercises were not excruciating because we only had 10 reps to get through. The hardest one for me was the full body crunch done right at the end. There’s always at least one ab exercise that’s difficult for me!
Can’t wait to try out Ab Ripper 200! Do I dare press play on Tony Horton’s One on One Core Ball Sandwhich? Oh, I will. How about you? Bring it, Tony!
Turbo Jam: Ab Jam
When I first looked at this dvd, I thought twenty minutes was an incredibly long time to be working on my abs. I’ve got to tell you that the time just flew by. I’m not sure what it is about Turbo Jam or Chalene Johnson, but each workout is fun. Fun means you’ll keep doing it. Fun means you get through the workout before you realize you’re exercising…just kidding.
Keeping with the trademark of Beachbody workouts, Ab Jam uses cardio interval training to keep your heart pumping. You’re going to sweat, burn calories, melt fat, and pump up your metabolism.
The first half of the workout is standing. If you’re used to working your abs with crunches, a ball, or ab machines, you’ll be surprised at how many different ways you can work your abdominal muscles standing up.
You may not be comfortable doing standing ab exercises. Give it a chance and work through it. It’s probably just new to you. Some of the standing ab exercises are similar to those in Debbie Sieber’s Slim in 6. I also noticed some similarities with Tony Horton’s P90X Extreme Home Fitness System.
The second half of the workout moves to ab exercises on the floor. I learned some new moves. I was expecting something in between Slim in 6 and P90X’s Ab Ripper X or Yoga Belly 7. My favorite floor exercise in Ab Jam involves sitting on the floor with your hands on the floor behind you. Your knees are bent…feet off the floor. You then lean back and touch your knees to the left until they hit the floor. Then, your bring them to the right until they hit the floor, etc. This works the lower abs really good!
I’ve got a few more ab routines to review for you, so you’ll have plenty of information on how to get yourself a tight, flat set of abs. Still coming up: Turbo Jam Booty Sculpt & Abs, Tony Horton’s One on One Core Ball Sandwhich, and Brett Hoebel’s new 90 day ab solution Rev Abs.
Rev Abs isn’t available, yet. This Beachbody workout won’t be released until the fall; however, I have a preview dvd. It’s the first dvd in program. Getting free preview dvds of upcoming releases is one of the benefits of being a Beachbody Coach. Speaking of previews, I have an extra Tony Horton One on One Cardio Intervals dvd.
Here’s all you have to do to get it. Click here to sign up for a free Beachbody account. When you sign up for your free account, Beachbody will let me know that you signed up from this website. I will then send you an email to make arrangements to get the dvd to you. If you’re not the first to sign up, don’t worry. I will personally make sure you get a dvd for free just for visiting my site and signing up for your free account. (Of course I won’t be able to extend this offer forever. You must act by August 31st, 2009.)
Do you know the benefits of getting your free Beachbody account? They’re amazing…
1. Access to the WOWY (workout with you) online supergym. Here, you’ll be able to schedule workouts and track your progress. You’ll also be able to connect with other people in the supergym with you and be eligible to win cash and prizes of up to $1000 per day.
2. You can compete for the $25,000 grand prize in the Million Dollar Body Game.
3. Your own personal coach (me) to help guide you to the support, tools, and motivation you need to reach your goals.
4. Workout buddies to help keep you motivated.
5. Access to the Beachbody message boards and cool down chat room.
6. Weekly Beachbody newsletters where you’ll learn about nutrition, exercise, and more.
Go ahead, sign up here! You’ve got nothing to lose except all those extra pounds.
